Automatic stair-climber



Dec. 27, 1966 M. JARVIK 3,294,199

AUTOMATIC STAIR-CLIMBER Filed June 28, 1965 FIG. a 34 38 Murray Jorvik v NToR ATTORNEY United States Patent Cfifice 3,294,199 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 3,294,199 AUTOMATIC STAIR-CLIMBER Murray .larvik, 2727 Palisades Ave., Riverdale, N.Y. 10463 Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,457 13 Claims. (Cl. 187-1) This invention relates generally to a device for aiding a person to climb a flight of steps and more particularly to a portable apparatus which is adapted to lift a person from one step to the next succeeding step of a conventional stairway so that the person may be raised from one floor of a building to an upper floor with a minim-urn of physical exertion.

In many instances, it is desirable to provide a means for mechanically aiding a person to climb a conventional stairway. For example, the physical condition of many people due to either a severe heart condition or an associated ailment pnocludes their climbing a staircase since the physical exertion for this activity would place an undue burden on their heart. Accoordingly, some means must be provided to aid these people when they wish to travel from a lower floor to an upper floor in a building. While an elevator would be an ideal solution to the problem, it is usually structurally and economically impractical to install an elevator in a building which has not been specifically designed to accommodate the device. This is particularly true where the building is a residence since the room sizes and arrangements of a residence would make the installation of an elevator unfeasible.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable device which is adapted to raise a person up a flight of steps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for aiding a person to climb a flight of steps which is simple in construction and requires little maintenance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a step-climbing device which is economical to produce and which is efiicient in its operation.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base which is adapted to rest upon one step of a conventional stairway. A hydraulic lifting device, which is mounted on the base, is adapted to lift the base from the one step to a position above the plane of the next succeeding step of the flight of steps. In operation, a person stands on the base of the apparatus and operates the controls to energize the hydraulic lifting device. The lift elevates the base above the plane of the next succeeding step whereupon the person walks onto the said next succeeding step. The apparatus is then tilted so that the base rests on this step. The controls are again operated to return the hydraulic lifting device to its initial position. Thereafter, the apparatus is bodily moved so that the base is received on the upper step. This operation is repeated until the person reaches the top of the stairway. Thus, the person is successively moved up the flight of steps with a minimum amount of physical exertion only on his part.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a step-climbing device constructed according to the present invention showing its operation on a stairway;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the step-climbing device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away, illustrating the raising of the device from a lower step to an upper step.

The step-climbing device of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10 and includes a substantially rectangular base 12. The base 12 is sized to be supported by a step of a conventional staircase or flight of steps. Integral flanges 14 and 16 depend from the respective transverse edges of the base 12. A different pair of axles 18 are fixedly received in apertures in the respective flanges 14 and 16 and rotatably receive the wheels 20 thereon. The wheels 20 facilitate the movement of the base 12. In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wheels 20 are supported on a step 64 of a conventional stairway. Additionally, a bumper 13 is provided on the front edge of the base 12 and is affixed thereto in any conventional manner. The bumper is preferably made of a non-skid material such as hard rubber.

A bore 28 extends through thebase 12. An enclosed cylinder 22, provided with opposed coaxial through bores 24 and 26 in the respective top and bottom walls, is mounted on the base 12 with the bores 24 and 26 aligned with the bore 28. A hollow tube 30 extends upwardly from the top wall of the cylinder 22 and is coaxial with the cylinder. The tube 30 terminates in a radially extending flange 32 which supports a micro switch 34 thereon. A piston rod 36 is slidably received in the cylinder 22 and a portion thereof is slidably received in the tube 30. One end of the cylinder rod 36 extends through the bores 26 and 28 and a substantially square piston head or rod end 38 is rigidly secured to the end of the rod. In the preferred embodiment, the end 38 is of slightly smaller dimensions than base 12. A piston 40 is fixedly connected to the piston rod 36 within the cylinder 22. The through ,bores 56 and 58 are provided in the wall of the cylinder 22 and are respectively positioned adjacent the bottom and top walls of the cylinder. The bores 56 and 58 respectively receive the tubes 62 and 60 therein which communicate with a valve 52 and which provide for the passage of a fluid between the valve 52 and the interior of the cylinder 22. -It is to be noted that a single ended cylinder may operate equally as well as the cylinder described.

Normally the piston rod 36 is in a retracted position wherein the piston 40 is disposed adjacent the .upper wall of the cylinder 22 and the head or end 38 is spaced above the point of contact of the wheels 20 with the step 64. When the piston 40 is moved downwardly, the piston rod 36 and the head 38 move therewith as a unit and the head 38 abuts the top surface of the step 64. Further downward movement of the piston head or rod end 38 is therefore arrested by the step 64 and, accordingly, the cylinder 22 and the base 12 will rise relative to the end 38. It is to be understood that the piston stroke is such that at the end of the stroke, when the piston rod 36 is fully extended (i.e., when the piston 40 is adjacent the bottom wall of the cylinder 22), the base 12 will be spaced above the plane of the next succeeding step 66, as shown in phantom in FIG. 4.

A shaft 42 extends upwardly from the piston head 38 and is slidably received in a through bore 44 in the base 12 to prevent the rotation of the base 12 relative to the piston rod 36.

An upstanding integral transverse partition 45 is provided on the base 12 and is positioned between the cylinder 22 and the right-hand edge of the base 12, as taken in FIG. 3. A pump 46 is mounted on the base 12 in any conventional manner, as by bolting the elements together, with the wall of the pump abutting the partition 45. The pump 46 is of a conventional design and may compress any fluid such as a gas or a liquid. The pump 46 is adapted to be connected to a source of potential by J a lead 48. As shown in FIG. 3, the lead 48 is provided with a male plug and is adapted to be received in a conventional house outlet. As is conventional with pumps of this type, the pump will begin to operate as soon as it is energized and will automatically cease to operate when the pressure of the fluid reaches a preselected value. Moreover, the pump will automatically operate to maintain the pressure of the fluid at the preselected value.

A conventional solenoid actuated 4-way valve '52 is mounted on the top of the pump 46 and is connected to the outlet of the pump. The valve may be electrically connected in parallel with the pump 46 or may be connected to a separate source of energy. A fluid reservoir 54 is mounted on the base 12 intermediate the partition 45 and the cylinder 22 in any conventional manner, as by bolting, and communicates with the pump 46 through the flexible tubing 54. The flexible tubing 60 is connected to one outlet port of the valve 52 and the flexible tubing 62 is connected to another outlet port of the valve 52. The operation of the valve 52 is controlled by the microswitch 34, which is connected to the valve by a lead 50.

The elements of the present invention are preferably fabricated from a light sturdy material such as aluminum, so that the step climbing device may be moved easily without taxing the strength of the person operating the device. Additionally, it is to be understood that suitable gaskets surround the bores 24 and 26 to provide an airtight seal at these points.

The operation of the present invention may best be understood from a consideration of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. It is to be noted that the operative elements of the device 10 are mounted on the right-hand side of the base '12, as taken in FIG. 2. Thus, a person P is free to stand upon the left-hand side of the base. When the step-climbing device of the present invention is to be used the pump 46 is energized so that the pressure of the fluid in the resenvoir 54 is increased to the preselected value. The operator P then steps upon the base 12. Preferably, the operator stands on the base 12 with one foot, as shown in phantom in FIG. 1, so that he can shift his weight as in walking. Alternatively, the operator P can stand on the base 12 with both feet. The microswitch 34 is actuated by the person P to operate the valve so that the pressurized fluid will enter the upper portion of the chamber defined by the piston 40 and the top and side walls of the cylinder 22, and the fluid in the lower chamber defined by the piston 40 and the side and bottom walls of the cylinder 22 will exit through the tubing 62. Accordingly, the piston rod 36 moves to the extended position. When the rod end or piston head 38 abuts the step 64 the base 12 rises relative to the step 64.

When the base 12 has moved a vertical distance in excess of the height of the riser 68 which separates the steps 64 and 66 (i.e., above the plane of the step 66) the operator P less olf. The operator thereafter walks on to the step 66. The device is then tilted so that the wheels 20 adjacent the riser 66 are received on the step 66 with the non-skid bumper 13 abutting the step. Thereafter, the switch 34 is actuated to position the valve 52 so that the pressurized fluid enters the lower chamber of the piston assembly defined by the piston 40 and the bottom and side walls of the cylinder 22 and the fluid exits from the top portion of the piston chamber defined by the piston 40 and the side and top walls of the cylinder 22 to thereby move the piston rod 36 to its retracted position. When the piston rod 36 moves to its retracted position, the base 12 is rolled upon the next step 66 and the operation repeated to raise the operator P to the next succeeding step.

Accordingly, a step-climbing device has been provided which is simple in construction and which effectively and efficiently elevates a person from one floor to another with a minimum of physical exertion on the part of the person utilizing the device. v

As an alternative arrangement, the pump 46 may be located remote from the cylinder 22 and connected thereto, through the valve 52, by appropriate tubing of sufficient length so that the device 10 can be moved up the flight of steps. Additionally, the pump 46 and the reservoir 54 may be replaced with a tank of compressed fluid which may be located remote from the device 10 and connected thereto by appropriate tubing of suflicient length. Furthermore, the switch 34 may be replaced by a weight actuated switch which is positioned on the base 12 and which will control the operation of the valve 52 in accordance with the pressure or absence of weight on the switch. Accordingly, the device 10 will be operated as the operator steps upon the weight actuated switch.

While preferred embodiments have been described, it will become apparent that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A step-climbing device comprising a base sized to receive a person thereon, means mounted on said base and adapted to abut a particular step for raising the base above the next succeeding step, means operable by a person for actuating said last named means, whereby a person supported on said base Will be elevated above the next succeeding step, said device being portable and adapted to be moved from step to step by the person using it.

2. A device for aiding a person to climb a. flight of steps comprising a base sized to receive a person thereon, lifting means mounted on said base and adapted to abut a particular step for raising the base above the next succeeding step, cooperating means between said lifting means and said base for preventing the rotation of said base relative to said lifting means, said device being portable and adapted to be moved by the person using it from step to step of a flight of steps.

3. A step-climbing device comprising a base sized to be supported by a step of a conventional stairway and adapted to receive a person thereon, a plurality of wheels connected to said base to facilitate movement of the base, elevating means on said base movable between a retracted and an extending position, means operatively connected to said elevating means for moving said elevating means to the extended position so as to raise said base above the plane of the next succeeding step, said device being portable and adapted to be moved by the person using it from step to step of the stairway.

4. A step-climbing device as in claim 3, and means connected to said elevating means and being operative to move said elevating means to the retracted position.

5. A step-climbing device as in claim 4, and means interconnecting said base and said elevating means for preventing the rotation of said base with respect to said elevating means.

6. A device for climbing a flight of steps comprising a base sized to be supported on a step and adapted to receive a person thereon, a cylinder mounted on said base, a piston rod having a piston thereon slidably received in said cylinder, said piston rod being movable between an extended and a retracted position, one end of said piston rod projecting through said base, raising means for moving said piston rod to the extended position whereby said base is raised above the plane of the next succeeding step of the flight of steps, and means for retracting said piston rod without lowering said base below the plane of the next succeeding step, said device being portable and adapted to be moved by the person using it from step to step of said flight of steps.

7. A device for climbing a flight of steps as defined in claim 6, and a plurality of wheels connected to said base to facilitate movement of said base, lowering means connected to said cylinder for moving said piston rod to the retracted position wherein the wheels abut the step.

8. A device for climbing a flight of steps as defined in claim 7, wherein said raising and lowering means comprise a pump for producing a pressurized fluid, a first passage communicating between said pump and said cylinder at a position spaced above said piston, a second passage communicating between said pump and said cylinder at a position spaced below said piston, and valve means connected intermediate said pump and said first and second passages for selectively directing the pressurized fluid through one of said passages to move said piston rod in the desired direction.

9. A step climbing device comprising a base sized to be supported on a step and adapted to receive a person thereon, a cylinder mounted on said base, a piston rod having a .piston aflixed thereto slidably received in said cylinder, said piston rod being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, means on said base connected to said cylinder for moving said piston rod between said retracted and extended position whereby said base is raised above the plane of the next succeeding step of a flight of steps, one end of said piston rod extending through said base, a plate of smaller dimension than said base rigidly secured to the one end of the piston rod and adapted to abut a step when said piston rod is moved to the extended position to provide a support for the device, and means for retracting said piston rod without lowering said base below the plane of the next succeeding step, said device being portable and adapted to be moved by the person using it from step to step of said flight of steps.

10. A step-climbing device as in claim 9, and stabilizing means connected between said base and said plate for preventing the relative rotation of said piston rod and said base.

11. A device as in claim 10, wherein said stabilizing means comprises an upstanding rod connected to said base, and a through bore in said base slidably receiving said rod therein.

12. A method for climbing a flight of steps in conjunction with a device including a base sized to be supported on a step and a lift on said base having a piston rod adapted to raise the base comprising the steps of mounting said base, operating said lift to extend the piston rod to raise said base above the plane of the next succeeding step, stepping onto the next succeeding step from said base, tilting said base until it abuts the next succeeding step, operating said lift to retract the piston rod, and moving said base until it is supported by the next succeeding step.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the base is provided with wheels and is rolled onto the next succeeding step in supporting engagement therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,463 2/ 1944 Maytham 187-] 2,679,890 6/ 1954 Zannoth 182l4l 2,837,312 6/1958 Troche.

FOREIGN PATENTS 650,624 10/ 1962 Canada.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STEP-CLIMBING DEVICE COMPRISING A BASE SIZED TO RECEIVE A PERSON THEREON, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND ADAPTED TO ABUT A PARTICULAR STEP FOR RAISING THE BASE ABOVE THE NEXT SUCCEEDING STEP, MEANS OPERATIVELY BY A PERSON FOR ACTUATING SAID LAST NAMED MEANS, WHEREBY A PERSON SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE WILL BE ELEVATED ABOVE THE NEXT SUCCEEDING STEP, SAID DEVICE BEING PORTABLE AND ADAPTED TO BE MOVED FROM STEP TO STEP BY THE PERSON USING IT. 